Chair



Nov. 9, 1937. P. E. G. ERlcsoN CHAIR Filed Nov. V26, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. l9, 1937, P E. G. ERlcsoN 2,098,743

CHAIR Filed Nov. ze. 1955 s sheets-sheet 2 v gwen/af- Nov. 9, 1937. I P. E. G. ERlcsoN .2,098,743

' CHAIR Filed Nov. 26,y 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .25 Figure 1 is a Patented Nov. 9, 1,937 a UNITE STATES CHAIR Philip E. G. Ericson, St. Charles, Ill., assignor'to The Howell Company, St. Charles, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 26, 1935, Serial No. 51,646

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a chair having a metallic frame vwhich supports a sheet forming a seat and back for the chair. More particularly, the present improvements haveto rdo with the combination of a resilient base or' supporting frame and a rigid chair or back frame, the one being .connected to the other in such a manner ,as not to impair the resilient action which, 'in part, is depended upon to aiord comfort and ease to the occupant. 'In addition, the present improvements are directed to certain detailsjof construction, such as means orladjustably connecting to the chair frame the iiexible sheet which forms the seat and back; means for tensioning lquent conformation tothe form and ngure of the occupant; Vmeans for constructing and connectingarm rests to the base frame; means for adjustably connecting the chair trainato the base frame; and various other features ofconstruction, ali as hereinafter pointed out and claimed. Certain exempliiications of this invention are il- Alustrated in the accompanying drawings, where# perspective view in elevation of the chair in its entirety; A

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail in section on line 2 of Fig. 1; 4 1 Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in section on line t of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in section on line i of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5, which is an enlarged detail in section, shows a modiilcation of the construction illustratecl in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through the larm rest and associated arm portion of the base frame;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section on line 1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is 'an enlargeddetail in section `on line 8 oi Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is an enlargeddetail in section online 9 A 55 modiiication thereof.

' the seat so as to prevent sagging with `conse' The present chair comprises a resilient base frame which carries a relativelyrigid chair frame therein wherein is supported a yielding seat and back. As shown, 'the Ease frame consists of two c-shaped resilient straps of spring steel or the 5 like, together with certain' connecting bars. Starting from its lower end, each strap proceeds horizontally to provide a supporting base portion i5 having downset feet i@ and il. Adjacent'the forward foot the strap swings through an up- 10 ward turn and thence vertically to provide an upright supportingportion i8, which at its upper end extends rearwardly through a wide arc tol provide an arched armrest portion i9. Continuing rearwardly the terminal arm portion is '15 bowed to afford a reverse turn downwardly and forwardly so as to present lits extremity at a point definitely below the arm rest and at a point in advance of the rearmost turn of the arm portion. Between the two feet, the strap is 20 arched upwardly at` i5, as shown in Fig. 1, so that oor contact is limited to the feet. Connecting the two c-straps are one or more bars 2I,'the ends of which are secured'thereto in the elevated portion between the feet, thus affording-a ilrm and rigid base structure extending rearward-` ly to a sunlcient extent to aiord the entire support and serving to suspend the chair as a whole above the base structurethus afforded. Nearthe forwardly turned free end of each C-strap is a transverse boltopening 25, through which may heinserted a holt 26 equipped with a removable wing nut 2l. The bolt serves to hold in place a tongue 30 formedby preference with severalv openings 3i therethrough. The bolt which serves 35 to connect the tongue to the end of the C-strap may be inserted through a selected one of these openings, whereby to secure the tongue in a selected position longitudinally of the C-strap. The

forward tongue end projects beyond the extrem 40 ity of the C-strap, at which point it is curved around in the form oi an eye or loop 35. The loop end ,may be secured in place as by a welding eonnection 36. y

Accommodated within the eye or loop of the tongue is one end of a pipe bar 40 which may conveniently be formed from at stockl whichpis leent into cylindrical form. This pipe bar may he threaded interiorly to receive a stud bolt 4I having a head 4,2 (See Fig. 1). The pipe bar ex- 50 tends transversely Abetween the two spaced cstraps to provide a means o! connection therebetween. `The head of each stud bolt is adapted to 'bear against the end of the eye or loop so as to retain the pipe bar in place. -Ii these bolts -lie 55 7o of the chair back which may comprise a sheet 15 withdrawn, the pipe bar may be taken out for purposes of disassembly. l

i Each c-strap is further provided with a clip (see Fig. 9) aiiixed toits under side at a point above its rear extremity.` This clip, as shown, may be in the form of a metal strap loop having its-twof ends 4I and 48 in overlapping relation, and an interior eye 41 through which extends a cylindrical stud 48 extending laterally from the back frame presently'to be described, and having an axial socket which is threaded to receive a studbolt 49 with a head 88. Registering openings are formed through the overlapping ends of the clip for the reception of a bolt `or rivet 82 which passes through ahole in the arm portion of the C-frame. In addition, the turn of the clip which lies next to the arm portion is pro" vided at its sides with upturned flanges 58 embracing opposite edges of the C-strap'. vThesev ilanges serve to hold the clip securely against motion of any kind when secured in place with the aid of a single rivet or bolt 82. It will be understood that a similar clip is provided for the arm portion of each cfstrap.

Corresponding to the rear bar 40, which extends transversely between the two C-frames to interconnect their rear ends, is a second connecting bar B8 lying in a forward position. This latter bar may be made from rolled stock, as already described, with its ends received within loops of clips the same in construction `and mode of attachment as the one already described in connection with Fig. 9. As by means of bolts having heads 9|, this forward bar may be removed for purposes of disassembly or otherwise.

Associated with 'a' resilient base frame having the construction described is a relatively rigid i' chair or back frame. As shown, the back frame is made offlat stock rolled into half round channel form with its concave side inwardly disposed. The frame comprises twostandards 85; which spring from the bar 48 and extend in substantially vertical direction and a connecting horizontal portion 66 at their upper ends.

In addition to the connection between the lower extremities of the back frame and the rear crossbar 40, I havel provided i'urther medial connecnons with the cups on the under sideor the arm portions of the seat iframe.` -These connecy. relationv at the rear-.ends of the flexible c-straps withoutjother contact orv connection with the filoor. The rigid back frame is thus held suspended `at the free ends of the flexible C-straps,

which in turn are supported at their lower ends only upon the floor. VAs shown in Fig. 10, the flexibilityof the free bowed ends of the C-straps Y is suiflclentfto allow the back frame within rather close limits to rock or pivot on the studs 48 as an lvaxis, andv to swing back into the rear position v indicated in dotted lines under the spring tension of the c-straps, which are thus drawn `forward beyond their normal positions.

I may add a crossbar 18 to the chair frame at a point near its upper end, 'preferably in slightly spaced relation to the connecting bar 68. This cross bar serves as a support for the upper kend of fabric or the like extending downwardly and then horizontally to connect with the forward bar 88 to provide also a seat for the chair. This combined back and seat which is otherwise unvover arm rest portions of the C-straps.

' a further pillow or cushion 11 may be set on the sheet in its lower region, furnishing a comfortable seat for the occupant. The cross bar 10 is shown in detail inFig. 2,v

,Where it appears in the form of a half round channel bar with depending tongues at opposite ends fitting into the concave inner faces of the upright. legs of the chair frame. The connectionmay be made permanent, if desired, as by welding. Associated with the rounded cross bar is anoverlying clamp bar 8|, also of half round channel form, extending for substantially the entire distance between the two legs of the chair frame. This clamp bar'is adapted to be secured in place to the cross bar as by means of Abolts 82 equipped with nuts 83. The sheet fabric forming the combined back and seat is extended over the clamp bar and thence around its end to pass over the cross bar, the ends of the material continuing for a short distance therebeyond but in a position' of obscurity. i

The bolts 82 are located beyond the edges of the sheet material (see Fig. 3), which need not therefore be perforated for the bolts to occupy their effective positions. When tightened, the clamp bar will be pressed against the cross bar .with the sheet of material clamped therebetween.

In addition, the material passes around the lower and rearward edge of the clamp bar, thus developing a resistance to slipping which enhances that afforded by the clamping action between the two bars.

'I'he arm rest portions of the C-strap are provided with arm rests o f the character shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Each arm rest is'in the form of an upwardly bowed metal strap 83 having its sides 84 bowed downwardly and inwardly to embrace the edges of the arm rest portion I9, and also having its ends bowed downwardly and inturned to aiord tongues 85 which are apertured to receive and engage the threads of steeply pitched vmetal screws 86 entered through the bui-red apertures 81, the burrs of which enter between the threads, the arrangement affording an arm rest which is smoothly rounded throughout and adequately secured with concealed fastenings.

Fig. 5 illustrates a. modification in the fastenings provided for the upper end of the fabric 15. In this case its upper end is looped around an outer half round clamping plate 88, and under said plate which overlies a cross bar 89, so that the fabric is clamped between the plate and the bar, the plate 88 being provided with tines 98 which pierce the fabric and enter apertures 9i 'in the cross bar, thus holding, the fabric tightly clamped throughout its upper edge and reinforc-r ing the same from side to side so that the strain will not be centered at any point in suiiicient degree to cause' tearing.

In Fig. 12, a modification is shown, in which the arm rest. portions I9EL of the C-straps extend directly backward and connect with a medial portion of the back frame through fittings similar to those illustrated in Fig. l1. 'Ihe connection thus afforded is supplemented by a bowed brace bar 92, which at its rear lower end connects with the bar 48 of the back frame by means of similar ttings, so that the back frame is thus iirmly held and suspended at the free ends of the C-straps while the bowed brace bars'are sufficiently flexible to permit limited movement of the back f composed of separated c-shaped steel straps,

a rigid back frame having on each side adjacent its lower extremity two vertically separated points of direct connection with freely suspended rear end portions of tbe supporting member. the rear end portions oi' the supporting member terminating at the lowermost connection with the back frame and providing between said points of connection a resilient support for the back frame, and a combined seat and back connected at its upper end to the upper portion of the rigid back frame and connected at its forward end tothe front of the supporting member.

- cally spaced points, said spaced points of connection permitting limited tiltingy of the back frame relatively to the rearwardly extendingmembers under the spring resistance thereof, between said 1 points ofdirect connection withy the back frame,

and back and seat portions connected respectively near the top of the rigid back frameand to the upright forward portions of lthe c-shaped steel straps 5. In a chair, the combination oi' a base iranien:

formed ef two erected flexible c-snapee steel straps having capacity for ilexingponly in a vertical plane. each strap being bent to provide a door contacting portion, a forward upright portion and a rearwardly recurved arm portion, the arm portions being downwardly and forwardly recurved at their rear ends, a forward transverse bar connecting the two upright portions, a rearward transverse bar connectingfthe rear ends oi' the arm portions, a rigid U-shaped back frame having its lower ends joined to the rearward transverse bar and extending upwardly therefrom, pivotal connections between the two arm portions and the back frame and located at points above the rearward transverse bar and aifording an axis for the limited tilting of the back frame f against the spring tension exerted upon the rearward transverse bar, and a combined seat and back of flexible sheet material connected at its upper end to the upper portion of the back frame and at its forward end to the forward transverse bar 6: In a chair having a. frame formed of two erected C-shaped flexible steel straps having capacity for exing only in a vertical plane, each of said straps being bent to provide a iloor contacting portion, a forward upright portion and rearwardly extending arm portions, the rearward ends or said arm portions being supplemented by brace bars connected at their forward ends to the arm portions and diverging at their rear ends therefrom to afford a rearwardly bifurcated arm portion, a back frame pivotedly connected on each side to the adjoining upper member of the bifurcated arm portion and having the lower end of the frame connected to the lower member of the bifurcated arm portion, the upper points of connection affording an axis forthe limited tilting of the back frame against the spring tension of the Rwer members of the bifurcated arm portions, andga combined'watand back connected at its upper .endnrthe topo! the back frame and conneci&,a`r5its fo end between the upright portions of the y::-shapeii Vsteel straps. v

HILIP ELG. RICSQN. 

